PROMOTION! Como is back in Serie A after 21 years

• Como 1907 secured promotion to the Serie A after a dramatic draw on the last matchday of the season.

• Only 5 years ago, the Lariani were in Serie D, the fourth division of Italian football.

During matchday 38, the last one of the current Serie B season, Como 1907 faced Cosenza Calcio at home, on the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia, and managed to get a draw. Near the 75th minute, Simone Verdi (31 years old) scored the important goal from the penalty spot, therefore securing the second place. The promoted team also benefited from third-placed Venezia’s loss to Spezia, and now they will play again in Serie A, after 21 years.

• QUOTE: “We played so many games in which we recovered and overturned results. It surely was the winning mentality of the group which made the difference.” -Simone Verdi

Waiting for 21 long years

Before the 21st century, Como played first-division football only 12 seasons since their founding in 1907. Then the 2002-2003 season came when they were promoted once more, but that season was nothing short of disastrous. Not only did their captain, Massimiliano Ferrigno (50 years old), receive a 3-year ban due to a violent incident, but their fans were also banned from attending home matches, because of crowd aggression. In addition, financial problems arose and consecutive relegations followed. In 2004, the club was declared bankrupt and the parent company was liquidated. 

A new entity with the same name was allowed to join the Serie D after 2 years, and they continued to play between the third and fourth tier until 2017 when the financial troubles began to destabilize the club again. It had to be put up for auction and with the help of an Indonesian company and famous minority shareholders like Thierry Henry (46 years old) and Cesc Fàbregas (37 years old), they returned to professional football.

Como 1907 won the 2018-2019 Serie D, then spent 2 years in the third division before getting promoted to Serie B in 2021. Starting from next season, they will officially be back in the first division. Fàbregas also took up the role of assistant coach for this season, which really helped the players to achieve this historic promotion. For the moment, it is unclear whether Como can play at their home stadium because it does not meet the current Serie A standards.

What a celebration!

After Como’s game ended, Fàbregas and the players remained on the pitch to follow the score of Venezia’s game. After they found out they were officially promoted, fans invaded their home pitch and the celebrations began. The Spanish assistant coach held a speech in the locker room, warning his team that this year was only the beginning and the real test starts next season. He ended by promising the players a trip to Ibiza for their incredible performance.

• QUOTE: “Be strong, because this year is nothing. This is only the warm-up. Next year: more efficiency, more work.” -Cesc Fàbregas 

In the stands, shareholder Thierry Henry, Italian legend Gianluca Zambrotta (47 years old), and current Leicester City player Jamie Vardy (37 years old) were all present, amongst other local stars. They all celebrated together with the team, staff, and fans.

Some media outlets speculate that Vardy could be on his way to Como after seeing him at the promotion party. He had talks with reporters there, and when he was asked why he was there, he explained that it was a wish of his to see a match at that stadium. He also encouraged the team for their next season in the Serie A. In the end, he was asked about whether he would join the Italian side, and the Englishman jokingly dodged a serious answer, leaving the door open for a possible transfer.

• QUOTE: "Me at Como? I'm getting old, I am old. Who knows, we'll see." -Jamie Vardy